Originally posted by: CaptainGoodnight
Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
I guess I misspoke. The drug test were not mandatory, they were random.
Why would a physical exam present a problem for 1st Lt. Bush? A little-know fact reported in the London Times and the New York Post on June 18, 2000 gives a powerful clue. In April 1972 ? the same month that Bush "gave up" flying ? all the overseas and stateside military services began subjecting a small random sample in their ranks to substance abuse testing for alcohol and drugs. The Pentagon had announced its intention to do so initially back on December 31, 1969. If Bush reported for his scheduled physical in August 1972, he could have been subject to selection for a random substance abuse test.
Bush's spokesman told the London Times that Bush "was not aware of any changes that required a drug test." But this does not hold up under scrutiny. In 1969 ? the year following Bush's enlistment ? the Pentagon notified every unit in the military that it would implement random drug testing at some point in the near future. When that moment arrived ? April 1972 ? every enlisted person and officer throughout the military, both overseas and stateside, would have been aware of this dramatic change. After all, the whole purpose of the random drug testing was to make it absolutely clear to everyone in the Armed Forces that the Pentagon would not tolerate substance abuse of any kind by anyone.
There is circumstantial evidence pointing to substance abuse by Bush during this period. On the campaign trail, Bush has stated that he has not used drugs or alcohol in excess since 1974. But this chronology makes it possible that he was in fact abusing one or more of these substances in the summer of 1972.
Moreover, interviews with friends during this period reveal that Bush partied and drank regularly, and Bush admits he was a hard drinker at the time. And over the Christmas holidays, Bush got into a widely-reported emotional showdown with his father after taking his 16-year-old brother Marvin drinking, hitting garbage cans while driving home.
Thus, the September 29 memo is a "smoking jet" which points to a potentially devastating interpretation: that Bush stopped flying two years short of his obligation because of substance abuse ? either directly, because he failed his physical exam, or indirectly, because he refused to take it out of fear that he would fail it.
Is it unreasonable to raise the possibility that 1st Lt. Bush was suspended from flying as a direct or indirect consequence of substance abuse? It might be if there was no way for Bush to prove his innocence. But George W. Bush can readily defend himself, if he so chooses, simply by voluntarily releasing his complete military record.
LINKY
Random Testing. By regulation, each military member must be tested at least once per year. Reserve members must be tested at least once every two years. This is done by means of "random testing." Basically, a commander can order that either all or a random-selected sample of his/her unit be tested, at any time. Results of random testing can be used in court-martials (Under Article 1128a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), article 15s (nonjudicial punishment), and involuntary discharges. This includes using the results to determine service characterization (honorable, general, or other-than-honorable). Members do not have the right to refuse random testing. However, commanders cannot order specific individuals to take a "random" test. Those selected must be truly "random."
LINKY
Now if you will expalin to me what your interpertation (and the ANG of the time period) is of what the "Statement of Intent" means I would appreciate it. To me it sure seems self explantory. I would think that they didn't want to invest a lot of money in a pilot who wasn't giving them 100%.
All a statment of intent is to ensure one's commitment to the Guard. They have certain requirments to fulfull this, which is laid out in the statement:
...upon successful completion of pilot training plan to return to my unit and fulfill
my obligation to the upmost of my ability. I have applied for pilot training with the
goal of making flying a lifetime pursuit and I believe I can best accomplish this to my
own satisfaction by serving as a member of the Air National Guard as long as possible.
"..upon successful completion of pilot training plan.."
records show he did that.
"plan to return to my unit and fulfill my obligation to the upmost of my ability."
Which he did. Records confirm that was well.
"I have applied for pilot training with the goal of making flying a lifetime pursuit"
A goal which he kept. He pursued it and accomplished it.
"I believe I can best accomplish this to my own satisfaction by serving as a member of
the Air National Guard
as long as possible."
And he did and got an honorable discharge.
I agree I would expect anyone going into the ANG to give it 100%. Question is: how to prove what a person's intent is? The only person who knows is GWB. Bush held up his end of the bargin. The winding down of the Vietnam War in 1971 provided a flood of exiting active-duty pilots for these instructor jobs, making part-timers like Bush somewhat superfluous. There was a huge glut of pilots in the Air Force in 1972, and with no cockpits available to put them in, many were shoved into non-flying desk jobs. Bush did not stop flying by choice.